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Luke 18:1-43

Then Jesus told His disciple a parable, in order to impress on them that they must continually pray and not lose heart.

“In a certain town, there was a judge who neither regarded God nor respected other people.

There was also in that town a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me a judgment against the man who is trying to ruin me.’

For a long while he refused; but finally, he thought to himself, ‘I don’t regard God, and I don't consider other people;

but because this widow is such a pain, I will insure that she gets justice — otherwise, she’ll keep pestering me till she wears me out!’”

Then the Lord commented, “Notice what this corrupt judge says. Now won’t God grant justice to His chosen people who pester Him day and night? Is he delaying long over them?

I tell you that He will judge in their favor, and quickly! But when the Son of Man comes, will He find this trust on earth at all?”

Also, to those who depend on their own righteousness and look down on everyone else, he told this parable:

“Two men went up to the Temple to pray, a Pharisee and a tax-collector.

The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself, ‘O God! I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, immoral, or like this tax-collector!

I fast twice a week, I pay tithes on my entire income, . . . ’

But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes toward heaven, but beat his chest and said, ‘God! Have mercy on me, sinner that I am!’

I tell you, the tax-collector man went home right with God rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but everyone who humbles himself will be lifted up.”

People brought Babies babies to touch; but when the disciples noticed the people doing this, they rebuked them.

However, Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the children come to me, and stop hindering them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Yes! I tell you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will not enter at all!”

One of the leaders asked him, “Good teacher, what should I do to gain eternal life?”

Jesus said to him, “Why did you call Me good? Only God is good!

You know the commandments — ‘Don’t commit adultery, murder, steal, nor give false testimony, but honor your father and mother, . . .’”

The leader replied, “I have done all this since I was a boy.”

On hearing this Jesus said to him, “There is one thing you still lack. Sell whatever you have, distribute the proceeds to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then follow Me!”

But when the man heard this, he became very distraught, because he was very rich.

Jesus looked at him and said, “It's hard for people with wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!

It’s easier for a camel to pass through the needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God!”

Those who heard this asked, “Then who can be saved?”

He said, “What is humanly impossible is possible with God.”

Peter said, “Look, we have left our homes and followed You.”

Jesus answered them, “Yes! I tell you that everyone who has left house, wife, brothers, parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,

will receive many times as much in the coming age, and eternal life.”

Then, taking the Twelve, Jesus said to them, “We are now going up to Jerusalem, where everything written through the prophets about the Son of Man will occur.

For He will be handed over to the world and be ridiculed, insulted and spat upon.

Then, after they have beaten him, they will kill him. But on the 3rd day He will rise.”

However, they understood none of this; its meaning had been hidden from them, and they had no idea what He was referring to.

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road, begging.

When he heard the crowd passing, he asked what it was happening;

and they told him, “Jesus from Nazareth is passing by.”

The blind man cried out, “Jesus! Son of David! Take pity on me!”

Those in front scolded him in order to get him to shut up, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David! take pity on me!”

Jesus stopped and had the man to be brought to Him. When he had come, Jesus asked him,

“What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Lord, make me able to see.”

Jesus said to him, “See again! your trust has healed you!”

Immediately he received his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they too praised God.


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And he spake also a simile to them, that it behoveth [us] always to pray, and not to faint,

2 saying, `A certain judge was in a certain city -- God he is not fearing, and man he is not regarding --

3 and a widow was in that city, and she was coming unto him, saying, Do me justice on my opponent,

4 and he would not for a time, but after these things he said in himself, Even if God I do not fear, and man do not regard,

5 yet because this widow doth give me trouble, I will do her justice, lest, perpetually coming, she may plague me.'

6 And the Lord said, `Hear ye what the unrighteous judge saith:

7 and shall not God execute the justice to His choice ones, who are crying unto Him day and night -- bearing long in regard to them?

8 I say to you, that He will execute the justice to them quickly; but the Son of Man having come, shall he find the faith upon the earth?'

9 And he spake also unto certain who have been trusting in themselves that they were righteous, and have been despising the rest, this simile:

10 `Two men went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer;

11 the Pharisee having stood by himself, thus prayed: God, I thank Thee that I am not as the rest of men, rapacious, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax-gatherer;

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all things -- as many as I possess.

13 `And the tax-gatherer, having stood afar off, would not even the eyes lift up to the heaven, but was smiting on his breast, saying, God be propitious to me -- the sinner!

14 I say to you, this one went down declared righteous, to his house, rather than that one: for every one who is exalting himself shall be humbled, and he who is humbling himself shall be exalted.'

15 And they were bringing near also the babes, that he may touch them, and the disciples having seen did rebuke them,

16 and Jesus having called them near, said, `Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the reign of God;

17 verily I say to you, Whoever may not receive the reign of God as a little child, may not enter into it.'

18 And a certain ruler questioned him, saying, `Good teacher, what having done -- shall I inherit life age-during?'

19 And Jesus said to him, `Why me dost thou call good? no one [is] good, except One -- God;

20 the commands thou hast known: Thou mayest not commit adultery, Thou mayest do no murder, Thou mayest not steal, Thou mayest not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.'

21 And he said, `All these I did keep from my youth;'

22 and having heard these things, Jesus said to him, `Yet one thing to thee is lacking; all things -- as many as thou hast -- sell, and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, be following me;'

23 and he, having heard these things, became very sorrowful, for he was exceeding rich.

24 And Jesus having seen him become very sorrowful, said, `How hardly shall those having riches enter into the reign of God!

25 for it is easier for a camel through the eye of a needle to enter, than for a rich man into the reign of God to enter.'

26 And those who heard, said, `And who is able to be saved?'

27 and he said, `The things impossible with men are possible with God.'

28 And Peter said, `Lo, we left all, and did follow thee;'

29 and he said to them, `Verily I say to you, that there is not one who left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children, for the sake of the reign of God,

30 who may not receive back manifold more in this time, and in the coming age, life age-during.'

31 And having taken the twelve aside, he said unto them, `Lo, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things shall be completed -- that have been written through the prophets -- to the Son of Man,

32 for he shall be delivered up to the nations, and shall be mocked, and insulted, and spit upon,

33 and having scourged they shall put him to death, and on the third day he shall rise again.'

34 And they none of these things understood, and this saying was hid from them, and they were not knowing the things said.

35 And it came to pass, in his coming nigh to Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting beside the way begging,

36 and having heard a multitude going by, he was inquiring what this may be,

37 and they brought him word that Jesus the Nazarene doth pass by,

38 and he cried out, saying, `Jesus, Son of David, deal kindly with me;'

39 and those going before were rebuking him, that he might be silent, but he was much more crying out, `Son of David, deal kindly with me.'

40 And Jesus having stood, commanded him to be brought unto him, and he having come nigh, he questioned him,

41 saying, `What wilt thou I shall do to thee?' and he said, `Sir, that I may receive sight.'

42 And Jesus said to him, `Receive thy sight; thy faith hath saved thee;'

43 and presently he did receive sight, and was following him, glorifying God; and all the people, having seen, did give praise to God.

[_LittleNipper]

Luke 19:1-48

Jesus went into Jericho and was passing through,

when a man named Zakkai/Zaccheus appeared who was a chief tax-collector and a wealthy individual.

He wanted to see who Jesus; but, being short, he couldn’t, because of the crowd.

So he ran ahead and climbed a fig tree in order to see him, because Jesus was about to pass that way.

When Jesus came to the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus! Hurry! Come on down, because I will stay at your house today!”

Zaccheus climbed down as fast as he could and welcomed Jesus joyfully.

Everyone who observed this began murmur, “Jesus is going to be the house-guest of a sinner.”

But Zaccheus stood there and said to the Lord, “Lord, I am giving half of all I have to the poor; and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much.”

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has arrived to this house, since this man too is a son of Abraham.

For the Son of Man came to find and save what was lost.”

While they were listening to this, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and the people supposed that the Kingdom of God was about to appear at any moment.

Therefore Jesus said, “A nobleman went to a country far away to have himself crowned king and then return.

Calling 10 of his servants, he gave them about three months’ wages and said to them, ‘Do business with this while I’m away.’

But his countrymen hated him, and they sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to rule over us.’

“However, he returned, having been made king, and sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what each one had earned in his business dealings.

The first one came in and said, ‘Sir, your pound has earned ten more pounds.’

‘Excellent!’ he said to him. ‘You are a good servant. Because you have been trustworthy in a small matter, I am putting you in charge of ten towns.’

The second one came and said, ‘Sir, your pound has earned five more pounds;

and to this one he said, ‘You'll be in charge of five towns.’

“Then another one came and said, ‘Sir, here is your pound. I hid in a piece of cloth,

because I was afraid of you — you withdraw what you didn’t invest, and you harvest what you didn’t plant.’

To him the master said, ‘You wicked servant! I will judge you by your own words! So you understood, did you, that I was a severe man, taking out what I didn’t put in and harvesting what I didn’t plant?

Then why didn’t you bank my money? Then, when I returned, I would have received it with interest!’

To those standing around, he said, ‘Take the pound from him and give it to the one with ten pounds.’

They said to him, ‘Sir, he already has ten pounds!’

However, the master answered, ‘I tell you, everyone who has something will be given more; but from anyone who has nothing, even what he does have will be removed.

However, as for these enemies of mine who did not wish me to be their king, fetch and execute them in my presence!’”

After saying this, Jesus went on and began heading up to Jerusalem .

As he approached Bethphage and Bethany, by the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples,

instructing them, “Go into the village ahead. Upon entering, you will see a colt tied up that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.

If anyone asks why you are untying it, tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

Those who were sent went off found the colt just as Jesus had told them.

As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

and they said, “Because the Lord needs it.”

They brought it to Jesus; and, throwing their robes on the colt, they put Jesus on it.

As Jesus rode along, people carpeted the road with their coats;

and as Jesus neared Jerusalem, where the road descends from the Mount of Olives, the entire group of disciples began singing and praising God at the top of their voices for all the powerful works they had witnessed:

“Blessed is the King who is coming in the name of Lord!” “Peace in heaven!” and “Glory in the highest places!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Rabbi! Reprimand your disciples!”

But Jesus answered them, “I tell you that if they kept quiet, the stones will shout!”

When Jesus had come closer and could see the city, he wept in regard it,

saying, “If you only knew today what is needed for peace! But for now it is hidden from your sight.

For the days are approaching when your enemies will set up a barricade around you, encircle you, hem you in on every side,

and dash you to the ground, you and your children within your walls, leaving not one stone erected on another — and all because you did not recognize your opportunity when God offered it!”

Then Jesus entered the Temple grounds and began driving out those doing business there,

saying to them, “The Law says, ‘My House is to be a house of prayer,’but you have turned it into a den of robbers!”

Every day he taught at the Temple. The head priests, the lawyers and the leaders of the people tried to find a way of putting an end to him;

but they couldn’t find any way of doing it, because all the people were hanging onto Jesus' every word.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And having entered, he was passing through Jericho,

2 and lo, a man, by name called Zaccheus, and he was a chief tax-gatherer, and he was rich,

3 and he was seeking to see Jesus, who he is, and was not able for the multitude, because in stature he was small,

4 and having run forward before, he went up on a sycamore, that he may see him, because through that [way] he was about to pass by.

5 And as Jesus came up to the place, having looked up, he saw him, and said unto him, `Zaccheus, having hastened, come down, for to-day in thy house it behoveth me to remain;'

6 and he having hastened did come down, and did receive him rejoicing;

7 and having seen [it], they were all murmuring, saying -- `With a sinful man he went in to lodge!'

8 And Zaccheus having stood, said unto the Lord, `Lo, the half of my goods, sir, I give to the poor, and if of any one anything I did take by false accusation, I give back fourfold.'

9 And Jesus said unto him -- `To-day salvation did come to this house, inasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham;

10 for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.'

11 And while they are hearing these things, having added he spake a simile, because of his being nigh to Jerusalem, and of their thinking that the reign of God is about presently to be made manifest.

12 He said therefore, `A certain man of birth went on to a far country, to take to himself a kingdom, and to return,

13 and having called ten servants of his own, he gave to them ten pounds, and said unto them, Do business -- till I come;

14 and his citizens were hating him, and did send an embassy after him, saying, We do not wish this one to reign over us.

15 `And it came to pass, on his coming back, having taken the kingdom, that he commanded these servants to be called to him, to whom he gave the money, that he might know what any one had done in business.

16 `And the first came near, saying, Sir, thy pound did gain ten pounds;

17 and he said to him, Well done, good servant, because in a very little thou didst become faithful, be having authority over ten cities.

18 `And the second came, saying, Sir, thy pound made five pounds;

19 and he said also to this one, And thou, become thou over five cities.

20 `And another came, saying, Sir, lo, thy pound, that I had lying away in a napkin;

21 for I was afraid of thee, because thou art an austere man; thou takest up what thou didst not lay down, and reapest what thou didst not sow.

22 `And he saith to him, Out of thy mouth I will judge thee, evil servant: thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow!

23 and wherefore didst thou not give my money to the bank, and I, having come, with interest might have received it?

24 `And to those standing by he said, Take from him the pound, and give to him having the ten pounds --

25 (and they said to him, Sir, he hath ten pounds) --

26 for I say to you, that to every one having shall be given, and from him not having, also what he hath shall be taken from him,

27 but those my enemies, who did not wish me to reign over them, bring hither and slay before me.'

28 And having said these things, he went on before, going up to Jerusalem.

29 And it came to pass, as he came nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, unto the mount called of the Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

30 having said, Go away to the village over-against, in which, entering into, ye shall find a colt bound, on which no one of men did ever sit, having loosed it, bring [it];

31 and if any one doth question you, Wherefore do ye loose [it]? thus ye shall say to him -- The Lord hath need of it.'

32 And those sent, having gone away, found according as he said to them,

33 and while they are loosing the colt, its owners said unto them, `Why loose ye the colt?'

34 and they said, `The Lord hath need of it;'

35 and they brought it unto Jesus, and having cast their garments upon the colt, they did set Jesus upon it.

36 And as he is going, they were spreading their garments in the way,

37 and as he is coming nigh now, at the descent of the mount of the Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began rejoicing to praise God with a great voice for all the mighty works they had seen,

38 saying, `blessed [is] he who is coming, a king in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.'

39 And certain of the Pharisees from the multitude said unto him, `Teacher, rebuke thy disciples;'

40 and he answering said to them, `I say to you, that, if these shall be silent, the stones will cry out!'

41 And when he came nigh, having seen the city, he wept over it,

42 saying -- `If thou didst know, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things for thy peace; but now they were hid from thine eyes.

43 `Because days shall come upon thee, and thine enemies shall cast around thee a rampart, and compass thee round, and press thee on every side,

44 and lay thee low, and thy children within thee, and they shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone, because thou didst not know the time of thy inspection.'

45 And having entered into the temple, he began to cast forth those selling in it, and those buying,

46 saying to them, `It hath been written, My house is a house of prayer -- but ye made it a den of robbers.'

47 And he was teaching daily in the temple, but the chief priests and the scribes were seeking to destroy him -- also the chiefs of the people --

48 and they were not finding what they shall do, for all the people were hanging on him, hearing him.

[_LittleNipper]

Luke 20:1-47

One day, as Jesus was instructing people at the Temple, making known the Good News --- the head priest and the Lawyers, along with the elders, came up to Him

and said, “Tell us, what authority do you have that allows you to do these things? Who gave you this authority?”

Jesus answered, “I too will ask you a question. Tell me,

the immersion of John the Baptizer — was it from Heaven or a human source?”

They debated it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From Heaven,’ He will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’

But if we say, ‘From a human source,’ all the people will stone us, because they’re convinced that John was a prophet.”

So they answered, “We have no idea.”

Jesus said to them, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Next Jesus told the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to tenant-farmers and left for a long time.

When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants to receive his share of the crop from the vineyard; but the tenants beat him up and sent him away empty-handed.

He sent another servant; they beat him also, insulted him and sent him away empty-handed.

He sent yet a third; this one they wounded and threw out.

“Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What am I to do? I will send my son, whom I love; maybe they will respect him.’

But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir; let’s kill him, so that the inheritance will be ours!’

And they tossed him from the vineyard and murdered him.

“What will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

He will come and put an end to those tenants and give the vineyard to others!” When the people heard this, they said, “Heaven forbid!”

But Jesus looked questioningly at them and said, “Then what is this which is written in the scriptures,

‘The very rock which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?

Whoever falls on that stone will be broken in pieces; but if it falls on him, he will be ground to dust!”

The Lawyers and the head priest would have grabbed Jesus at that very moment, because they knew that He directed this parable at them, but they were afraid of the people.

So they scrutinized the situation. They sent spies who hypocritically represented themselves as righteous, so that they might catch Jesus, as an excuse to hand Him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor.

They quizzed Him: “Rabbi, we know that you speak and teach straightforwardly, showing no partiality but actually explaining God’s way.

Does the Law permit us to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor or not?”

But Jesus, noting their craftiness, said to them,

“Show Me a denarius! Whose name and image does it possess?” “The Emperor’s,” they replied.

“Then,” Jesus said to them, “give the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor. And give God what belongs to God!”

They were unable to trap him by anything Jesus said publicly; indeed, amazed at his answer, they were silenced.

Some Sadducees, who believed that there is no resurrection, came to Jesus

and put to him a quandary: “Rabbi, Moses wrote for us that if a man dies leaving a wife but no children, his brother must take the wife and have children to preserve the man’s family line.

Now there were 7 brothers. The first took a wife and died childless,

then the second

and third took her, and likewise all 7, but they all died without leaving children.

Lastly, the woman also died.

In the Resurrection, which one’s wife will she be? For all 7 married her.”

Jesus said to them, “During this age, men and women marry;

but those judged worthy of the age to come, and of resurrection from the dead, do not get married,

because they die no more. Being children of the Resurrection, they are like angels; indeed, they are children of God.

But even Moses revealed that the dead are raised; for in the passage about the bush, he calls Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’

Now God is not God of the dead, but of those living — for Him all are alive.”

Some of the Lawyers answered, “Well spoken, Rabbi.”

For they no longer dared put a question to Him.

But Jesus said to them, “How is it that people say the Messiah is David’s son?”

For David himself reveals in the book of Psalms,

The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’

David thus calls him ‘Lord.’ So how can he be David’s son?”

45 Within the hearing of all the people, Jesus said to His disciples,

“Watch out for the kind of Lawyers that like to parade in robes and be greeted deferentially in the marketplaces, the kind that like to have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets,

the kind that consumes widows’ houses while making a show with long winded prayers. Their punishment will be far worse!”

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And it came to pass, on one of those days, as he is teaching the people in the temple, and proclaiming good news, the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders, came upon [him],

2 and spake unto him, saying, `Tell us by what authority thou dost these things? or who is he that gave to thee this authority?'

3 And he answering said unto them, `I will question you -- I also -- one thing, and tell me:

4 the baptism of John, from heaven was it, or from men?'

5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying -- `If we may say, From heaven, he will say, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him?

6 and if we may say, From men, all the people will stone us, for they are having been persuaded John to be a prophet.'

7 And they answered, that they knew not whence [it was],

8 and Jesus said to them, `Neither do I say to you by what authority I do these things.'

9 And he began to speak unto the people this simile: `A certain man planted a vineyard, and gave it out to husbandmen, and went abroad for a long time,

10 and at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant, that from the fruit of the vineyard they may give to him, but the husbandmen having beat him, did send [him] away empty.

11 `And he added to send another servant, and they that one also having beaten and dishonoured, did send away empty;

12 and he added to send a third, and this one also, having wounded, they did cast out.

13 `And the owner of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my son -- the beloved, perhaps having seen this one, they will do reverence;

14 and having seen him, the husbandmen reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir; come, we may kill him, that the inheritance may become ours;

15 and having cast him outside of the vineyard, they killed [him]; what, then, shall the owner of the vineyard do to them?

16 He will come, and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard to others.' And having heard, they said, `Let it not be!'

17 and he, having looked upon them, said, `What, then, is this that hath been written: A stone that the builders rejected -- this became head of a corner?

18 every one who hath fallen on that stone shall be broken, and on whom it may fall, it will crush him to pieces.'

19 And the chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him in that hour, and they feared the people, for they knew that against them he spake this simile.

20 And, having watched [him], they sent forth liers in wait, feigning themselves to be righteous, that they might take hold of his word, to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor,

21 and they questioned him, saying, `Teacher, we have known that thou dost say and teach rightly, and dost not accept a person, but in truth the way of God dost teach;

22 Is it lawful to us to give tribute to Caesar or not?'

23 And he, having perceived their craftiness, said unto them, `Why me do ye tempt?

24 shew me a denary; of whom hath it an image and superscription?' and they answering said, `Of Caesar:'

25 and he said to them, `Give back, therefore, the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God;'

26 and they were not able to take hold on his saying before the people, and having wondered at his answer, they were silent.

27 And certain of the Sadducees, who are denying that there is a rising again, having come near, questioned him,

28 saying, `Teacher, Moses wrote to us, If any one's brother may die, having a wife, and he may die childless -- that his brother may take the wife, and may raise up seed to his brother.

29 `There were, then, seven brothers, and the first having taken a wife, died childless,

30 and the second took the wife, and he died childless,

31 and the third took her, and in like manner also the seven -- they left not children, and they died;

32 and last of all died also the woman:

33 in the rising again, then, of which of them doth she become wife? -- for the seven had her as wife.'

34 And Jesus answering said to them, `The sons of this age do marry and are given in marriage,

35 but those accounted worthy to obtain that age, and the rising again that is out of the dead, neither marry, nor are they given in marriage;

36 for neither are they able to die any more -- for they are like messengers -- and they are sons of God, being sons of the rising again.

37 `And that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the Bush, since he doth call the Lord, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;

38 and He is not a God of dead men, but of living, for all live to Him.'

39 And certain of the scribes answering said, `Teacher, thou didst say well;'

40 and no more durst they question him anything.

41 And he said unto them, `How do they say the Christ to be son of David,

42 and David himself saith in the Book of Psalms, The Lord said to my lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

43 till I shall make thine enemies thy footstool;

44 David, then, doth call him lord, and how is he his son?'

45 And, all the people hearing, he said to his disciples,

46 `Take heed of the scribes, who are wishing to walk in long robes, and are loving salutations in the markets, and first seats in the synagogues, and first couches in the suppers,

47 who devour the houses of the widows, and for a pretence make long prayers, these shall receive more abundant judgment.'

[_LittleNipper]

Luke 21:1-38

Then Jesus looked up, and as he watched the rich putting their gifts into the Temple offering-boxes,

he observed a poor widow putting in two small coins.

He said, “The fact if the matter is, this poor widow has put in more than everyone else.

For they gave out of their wealth they could easily spare; but she, in her poverty, has given all she had to live on.”

As some people were remarking about the Temple, how beautiful its stonework and memorial decorations were, he said,

“The time is coming when what you observe here will be totally destroyed — not a single stone will be left standing!”

They asked him, “Rabbi, if this is so, when will such take place? And what sign will show that they are about to happen?”

He answered, “Watch out! Don’t be fooled! For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the One!’ and, ‘The time is now!’ Don’t follow them.

And when you hear of wars and revolutions, don’t worry. For these things must happen first, but the end will not happen immediately.”

Then he told them, “Citizens and nations will fight each other.

There will be great earthquakes, epidemics and famines in various places, and there will be fearful sights and great signs from Heaven.

But before all this, they will arrest you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons; and you will be brought before monarchs and rulers. This will all be on account of me,

but it will provide opportunity for you to bear witness.

So make up your minds not to worry. Do not rehearse your defense beforehand.

I Myself will give you an eloquence and a wisdom that no adversary will be able to resist or refute.

You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends; some of you they will put to death;

and everyone will despise you because of Me.

But not a hair of your head will be lost.

By standing firm you will save your lives.

“However, when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you are to understand that she is about to be destroyed.

Those in Judah must escape to the hills, those inside the city must leave, and those in the country must not enter it.

For these are the days of vengeance, when everything that has been written in the scriptures will come true.

What a terrible time it will be for pregnant women and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress in the Land and judgment upon the people.

Some will die by the edge of the sword, others will be carried into all the countries of gentiles, and Jerusalem will be trampled down by the gentiles until the Age of the Gentiles runs its course.

There will appear signs in the sun, moon and stars; and on earth, nations will be anxious and bewildered at the sound and surge of the sea,

as people faint with fear at the prospect of what is occurring to the planet; for the powers in heaven will be disturbed.

And then they will witness the Son of Man returning in a cloud with tremendous power and glory.

When these things start to happen, stand up and hold your heads high; because you are about to be freed!”

Then He told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, in fact, all the trees.

As soon as they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves that summer is arriving.

In the same way, when you see these things taking place, you are to know that the Kingdom of God is near!

Yes! I tell you that these people will certainly not pass away before it has all happened.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but what I say certainly not.

But keep watch on yourselves, or your hearts will become dulled by carousing, drunkenness and the worries of everyday living, and that Day will be sprung upon you suddenly like a trap!

For it will prey on everyone, no matter where they live, throughout the entire planet.

Stay alert, always praying that you will have the strength to escape all the things that will happen and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.”

Jesus spent His days at the Temple, teaching; while at night he went out and stayed on the hill called the Mount of Olives.

All the people would rise with daybreak to come and listen to Him at the Temple courts.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 And having looked up, he saw those who did cast their gifts to the treasury -- rich men,

2 and he saw also a certain poor widow casting there two mites,

3 and he said, `Truly I say to you, that this poor widow did cast in more than all;

4 for all these out of their superabundance did cast into the gifts to God, but this one out of her want, all the living that she had, did cast in.'

5 And certain saying about the temple, that with goodly stones and devoted things it hath been adorned, he said,

6 `These things that ye behold -- days will come, in which there shall not be left a stone upon a stone, that shall not be thrown down.'

7 And they questioned him, saying, `Teacher, when, then, shall these things be? and what [is] the sign when these things may be about to happen?'

8 And he said, `See -- ye may not be led astray, for many shall come in my name, saying -- I am [he], and the time hath come nigh; go not on then after them;

9 and when ye may hear of wars and uprisings, be not terrified, for it behoveth these things to happen first, but the end [is] not immediately.'

10 Then said he to them, `Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,

11 great shakings also in every place, and famines, and pestilences, there shall be; fearful things also, and great signs from heaven there shall be;

12 and before all these, they shall lay on you their hands, and persecute, delivering up to synagogues and prisons, being brought before kings and governors for my name's sake;

13 and it shall become to you for a testimony.

14 `Settle, then, to your hearts, not to meditate beforehand to reply,

15 for I will give to you a mouth and wisdom that all your opposers shall not be able to refute or resist.

16 `And ye shall be delivered up also by parents, and brothers, and kindred, and friends, and they shall put of you to death;

17 and ye shall be hated by all because of my name --

18 and a hair out of your head shall not perish;

19 in your patience possess ye your souls.

20 `And when ye may see Jerusalem surrounded by encampments, then know that come nigh did her desolation;

21 then those in Judea, let them flee to the mountains; and those in her midst, let them depart out; and those in the countries, let them not come in to her;

22 because these are days of vengeance, to fulfil all things that have been written.

23 `And wo to those with child, and to those giving suck, in those days; for there shall be great distress on the land, and wrath on this people;

24 and they shall fall by the mouth of the sword, and shall be led captive to all the nations, and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by nations, till the times of nations be fulfilled.

25 `And there shall be signs in sun, and moon, and stars, and on the land [is] distress of nations with perplexity, sea and billow roaring;

26 men fainting at heart from fear, and expectation of the things coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

27 `And then they shall see the Son of Man, coming in a cloud, with power and much glory;

28 and these things beginning to happen bend yourselves back, and lift up your heads, because your redemption doth draw nigh.'

29 And he spake a simile to them: `See the fig-tree, and all the trees,

30 when they may now cast forth, having seen, of yourselves ye know that now is the summer nigh;

31 so also ye, when ye may see these things happening, ye know that near is the reign of God;

32 verily I say to you -- This generation may not pass away till all may have come to pass;

33 the heaven and the earth shall pass away, but my words may not pass away.

34 `And take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts may be weighed down with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and anxieties of life, and suddenly that day may come on you,

35 for as a snare it shall come on all those dwelling on the face of all the land,

36 watch ye, then, in every season, praying that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are about to come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.'

37 And he was during the days in the temple teaching, and during the nights, going forth, he was lodging at the mount called of Olives;

38 and all the people were coming early unto him in the temple to hear him.

[_LittleNipper]

Luke 22:1-71

The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called Passover, was approaching.

The chief priests and the lawyers were looking for a way to murder Jesus, because they were afraid of the people.

Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve.

Judas went out and discussed with the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard how he would give Jesus to them.

They were thrilled and set payment for him.

Judas agreed and began looking for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them— when the crowds would be absent.

The Day of Unleavened Bread came, when the Passover had to be sacrificed.

Jesus sent Peter and John with this task: “Go and arrange for the Passover meal.”

They asked Jesus, “Where do you want us to have it?”

Jesus replied, “When you go into the city, a man carrying a water urn will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters.

Say to the owner of the house, ‘The teacher says to you, “Where is the guestroom where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?” ’

He will show you a large upstairs room, already furnished. Make preparations there.”

They went and found everything just as Jesus said, and they prepared for the Passover meal.

When the time came, Jesus took His place at the table, and the apostles joined Him.

He told them, “I have in all sincerity desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

I tell you, I won’t eat it again until it is fulfilled in God’s kingdom.”

After taking a cup and giving thanks, Jesus said, “Take this and share it among yourselves.

I tell you that from now on I won’t drink from the fruit of the vine until God’s kingdom arrives.”

After taking the bread and giving thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this remembering me.”

In the same way, Jesus took the cup after the meal and said, “This cup is the new covenant by my blood, which is spilt for you.

But observe! My betrayer is with Me; his hand is on this table.

The Human One goes just as it has been predicted. But how terrible it is for that individual who betrays him.”

They began to argue among themselves about which of them it might possibly be who would do such a thing.

An argument broke out among the disciples over which one of them should be regarded as the greatest.

But Jesus explained to them, “Gentile monarchs rule over their subjects, and those in authority over them are called ‘friends of the people.’

But that’s not the way it will be with you. Instead, the greatest among you must become like a person of lower status and the leader like a servant.

So which one is greater, the one sitting at the table or the one servicing the table? Isn’t it the one who is seated at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

“You are the ones who have stayed by Me in my trials.

And I confer royal power on you just as my Father granted royal power to me.

So you will eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones overseeing the twelve tribes of Israel.

“Simon, Simon, Note! Satan has asserted the right to sift you all like wheat.

However, I have prayed for you that your faith won’t fail. When you come back, strengthen your brothers and sisters.”

Peter responded, “Lord, I’m ready to go with you, both to prison and death!”

Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster won’t crow today before you have denied 3 times that you know Me.”

Jesus said to them, “When I sent you out without a wallet, bag, or sandals, you didn’t lack anything, did you?”

They said, “Nothing.”

Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a wallet must take it, and likewise a bag. And those who don’t own a sword must sell their garments and purchase one.

I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled with regards to Me ---- And he was counted among criminals. Indeed, what’s predicted about Me is nearing completion.”

They said to him, “Lord, look, here are 2 swords.”

He replied, “Enough of that!”

Jesus left and made his way to the Mount of Olives, as was His habit, and the disciples followed him.

When Jesus got there, He said to them, “Pray that you won’t give in to temptation.”

He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed.

He prayed, “Father, if it’s your will, remove this cup of suffering from Me. However, not My will but Your will must be accomplished.”

Then a heavenly angel appeared to Him and encouraged Him.

He was in anguish and prayed even more earnestly. His sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground.

When He got up from praying, He returned to the disciples. He found them sleeping, overcome by grief.

He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation.”

While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd appeared, and the one named Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him.

Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Human One with a kiss?”

When those about Him understood what was happening, they said, “Lord, should we fight with our swords?”

One of them struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear.

Jesus responded, “Stop! No more of this!” He touched the slave’s ear and healed him.

Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders who had come to get Him, “Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me, as though I were a thief?

Day after day I was with you in the temple, yet you didn’t arrest Me. But now is your time, when darkness rules.”

After they arrested Jesus, they led Him away bringing Him to the high priest’s house. Peter followed from a distance.

When they lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat with them.

Then a servant woman observed him sitting by the firelight. She stared at him and said, “This man was with Him too.”

But Peter denied it, saying, “Woman, I don’t know Him!”

A little while later, someone else saw him and said, “You are of them also.”

But Peter said, “Man, I’m not!”

An hour or so later, someone else insisted, “This man must have been with him, because he's a Galilean too.”

Peter responded, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” At that instant, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.

The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered the Lord’s words: “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me 3 times.”

And Peter ran out weeping uncontrollably.

The men who were holding Jesus in custody taunted Him while they beat him.

They blindfolded him and asked Him repeatedly, “Prophesy! Who hit you?”

Insulting Him, they said many other horrific things against him.

As daybreak approached, the elders of the people, both chief priests and lawyers, came together, and Jesus was brought before their council.

They said, “If you are the Messiah/Christ, tell us!”

He answered, “If I tell you, you won’t believe.

And if I ask you a question, you won’t answer.

But from now on, the Human One will be seated on the right side of the force of God.”

They all said, “Are you God’s Son, then?”

He replied, “You say so --- I Am.”

Then they said, “Why do we need further testimony? We’ve heard it from His very lips.”

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And the feast of the unleavened food was coming nigh, that is called Passover,

2 and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they may take him up, for they were afraid of the people.

3 And the Adversary entered into Judas, who is surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve,

4 and he, having gone away, spake with the chief priests and the magistrates, how he might deliver him up to them,

5 and they rejoiced, and covenanted to give him money,

6 and he agreed, and was seeking a favourable season to deliver him up to them without tumult.

7 And the day of the unleavened food came, in which it was behoving the passover to be sacrificed,

8 and he sent Peter and John, saying, `Having gone on, prepare to us the passover, that we may eat;'

9 and they said to him, `Where wilt thou that we might prepare?'

10 And he said to them, `Lo, in your entering into the city, there shall meet you a man, bearing a pitcher of water, follow him to the house where he doth go in,

11 and ye shall say to the master of the house, The Teacher saith to thee, Where is the guest-chamber where the passover with my disciples I may eat?

12 and he shall show you a large upper room furnished, there make ready;'

13 and they, having gone away, found as he hath said to them, and they made ready the passover.

14 And when the hour come, he reclined (at meat), and the twelve apostles with him,

15 and he said unto them, `With desire I did desire to eat this passover with you before my suffering,

16 for I say to you, that no more may I eat of it till it may be fulfilled in the reign of God.'

17 And having taken a cup, having given thanks, he said, `Take this and divide to yourselves,

18 for I say to you that I may not drink of the produce of the vine till the reign of God may come.'

19 And having taken bread, having given thanks, he brake and gave to them, saying, `This is my body, that for you is being given, this do ye -- to remembrance of me.'

20 In like manner, also, the cup after the supping, saying, `This cup [is] the new covenant in my blood, that for you is being poured forth.

21 `But, lo, the hand of him delivering me up [is] with me on the table,

22 and indeed the Son of Man doth go according to what hath been determined; but wo to that man through whom he is being delivered up.'

23 And they began to reason among themselves, who then of them it may be, who is about to do this thing.

24 And there happened also a strife among them -- who of them is accounted to be greater.

25 And he said to them, `The kings of the nations do exercise lordship over them, and those exercising authority upon them are called benefactors;

26 but ye [are] not so, but he who is greater among you -- let him be as the younger; and he who is leading, as he who is ministering;

27 for who is greater? he who is reclining (at meat), or he who is ministering? is it not he who is reclining (at meat)? and I -- I am in your midst as he who is ministering.

28 `And ye -- ye are those who have remained with me in my temptations,

29 and I appoint to you, as my Father did appoint to me, a kingdom,

30 that ye may eat and may drink at my table, in my kingdom, and may sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.'

31 And the Lord said, `Simon, Simon, lo, the Adversary did ask you for himself to sift as the wheat,

32 and I besought for thee, that thy faith may not fail; and thou, when thou didst turn, strengthen thy brethren.'

33 And he said to him, `Sir, with thee I am ready both to prison and to death to go;'

34 and he said, `I say to thee, Peter, a cock shall not crow to-day, before thrice thou mayest disown knowing me.'

35 And he said to them, `When I sent you without bag, and scrip, and sandals, did ye lack anything?' and they said, `Nothing.'

36 Then said he to them, `But, now, he who is having a bag, let him take [it] up, and in like manner also a scrip; and he who is not having, let him sell his garment, and buy a sword,

37 for I say to you, that yet this that hath been written it behoveth to be fulfilled in me: And with lawless ones he was reckoned, for also the things concerning me have an end.'

38 And they said, `Sir, lo, here [are] two swords;' and he said to them, `It is sufficient.'

39 And having gone forth, he went on, according to custom, to the mount of the Olives, and his disciples also followed him,

40 and having come to the place, he said to them, `Pray ye not to enter into temptation.'

41 And he was withdrawn from them, as it were a stone's cast, and having fallen on the knees he was praying,

42 saying, `Father, if Thou be counselling to make this cup pass from me --; but, not my will, but Thine be done.' --

43 And there appeared to him a messenger from heaven strengthening him;

44 and having been in agony, he was more earnestly praying, and his sweat became, as it were, great drops of blood falling upon the ground.

45 And having risen up from the prayer, having come unto the disciples, he found them sleeping from the sorrow,

46 and he said to them, `Why do ye sleep? having risen, pray that ye may not enter into temptation.'

47 And while he is speaking, lo, a multitude, and he who is called Judas, one of the twelve, was coming before them, and he came nigh to Jesus to kiss him,

48 and Jesus said to him, `Judas, with a kiss the Son of Man dost thou deliver up?'

49 And those about him, having seen what was about to be, said to him, `Sir, shall we smite with a sword?'

50 And a certain one of them smote the servant of the chief priest, and took off his right ear,

51 and Jesus answering said, `Suffer ye thus far,' and having touched his ear, he healed him.

52 And Jesus said to those having come upon him -- chief priests, and magistrates of the temple, and elders -- `As upon a robber have ye come forth, with swords and sticks?

53 while daily I was with you in the temple, ye did stretch forth no hands against me; but this is your hour and the power of the darkness.'

54 And having taken him, they led and brought him to the house of the chief priest. And Peter was following afar off,

55 and they having kindled a fire in the midst of the court, and having sat down together, Peter was sitting in the midst of them,

56 and a certain maid having seen him sitting at the light, and having earnestly looked at him, she said, `And this one was with him!'

57 and he disowned him, saying, `Woman, I have not known him.'

58 And after a little, another having seen him, said, `And thou art of them!' and Peter said, `Man, I am not.'

59 And one hour, as it were, having intervened, a certain other was confidently affirming, saying, `Of a truth this one also was with him, for he is also a Galilean;'

60 and Peter said, `Man, I have not known what thou sayest;' and presently, while he is speaking, a cock crew.

61 And the Lord having turned did look on Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he said to him -- `Before a cock shall crow, thou mayest disown me thrice;'

62 and Peter having gone without, wept bitterly.

63 And the men who were holding Jesus were mocking him, beating [him];

64 and having blindfolded him, they were striking him on the face, and were questioning him, saying, `Prophesy who he is who smote thee?'

65 and many other things, speaking evilly, they spake in regard to him.

66 And when it became day there was gathered together the eldership of the people, chief priests also, and scribes, and they led him up to their own sanhedrim,

67 saying, `If thou be the Christ, tell us.' And he said to them, `If I may tell you, ye will not believe;

68 and if I also question [you], ye will not answer me or send me away;

69 henceforth, there shall be the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power of God.'

70 And they all said, `Thou, then, art the Son of God?' and he said unto them, `Ye say [it], because I am;'

71 and they said, `What need yet have we of testimony? for we ourselves did hear [it] from his mouth.'

[Guest]

Luke 23:1-56

With that, the whole Sanhedrin stood and brought Jesus to Pilate,

where they accused Him. “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the Emperor and claiming that He is the Messiah -- king!”

Pilate asked Jesus, “Are You the king of the Jews?” And Pilate answered him, “The words come from you.”

Pilate said to the head priest and the crowds, “I find no ground for a charge against this man.”

But they insisted. “He is inciting the people with His teaching throughout all Judah — beginning in the Galilee, and now He’s here!”

On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean;

and when he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Jesus to Herod, who at that time happened to be in Jerusalem.

Herod was excited to see Jesus, because he had heard about Jesus and for a long time had been wanting to meet him; in fact, he hoped to see Jesus perform some miracle.

He questioned Jesus at great length, but Jesus didn't reply.

However, the head priest and scribes stood there, passionately pursuing their case against Jesus.

Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus contemptuously and humiliated Him. Then, dressing him in an elegant robe, they returned him back to Pilate.

That day Herod and Pilate became friendly towards each other; previously they had been enemies.

Pilate summoned the head priests, the leaders and the people,

and said to them, “You brought this man before me on a charge of subverting the people. I examined him in your presence and did not find the man guilty of this crime you are accusing Him of.

And neither did Herod, because he delivered Him back to us. Clearly, He has not done anything that merits the death.

Therefore, what I will do is have Him flogged and let Him leave.”

for it was traditional for Pilate to release to them one at every feast,

But with one voice they shouted, “Away with this man! Give us Barabbas!” [He was an individual thrown in prison for causing a riot in the city and for murder.]

Pilate appealed to them again, because he wished to release Jesus.

But they yelled, “Hang Him on the stake! Put Him to death upon the stake!”

A third time he asked them, “But what has this man done wrong? I haven’t found any reason to put him to death. So I’m going to have him flogged and set free.”

But they went on yelling continually, demanding that He be crucified; and their shouting prevailed.

Pilate decided to grant their demand.

He released the man who had been thrown in prison for insurrection and murder, the one they had demanded; and Jesus he surrendered to their desires.

As the Roman soldiers led Jesus away, they grabbed hold of a man from Cyrene named Shim‘on/Simon, who was traveling from the country. They put the execution crossbar on his back and made him carry it behind Jesus.

Large numbers of people followed, including women crying and wailing regarding Jesus.

Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalam, don’t cry for Me; cry for yourselves and your children!

For the time is coming when people will say, ‘Childless women are the lucky ones — those whose wombs have never borne a child, whose breasts have never nursed a baby!

Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘hide us!’

For if they do such things when the wood is green, what is going to happen when it’s dry?”

Two other men, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him.

When they came to the place called The Skull, they nailed Jesus to the crossbeam; and they nailed the criminals also, one on the right and one on the left.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; they don’t understand what they are doing.”

They divide up his clothes by throwing dice.

The people watched, and the rulers sneered at him. “He saved others,” they said, “so if He's really the Messiah --- chosen by God, let Him save Himself!”

The soldiers also ridiculed Him; they came up, offered him vinegar

and said, “If You are the king of the Jews, save Yourself!”

And there was a notice hung above Him reading, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS

One of the criminals hanging there shot off insults at Him. “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!”

But the other one spoke up and rebuked the first, saying, “Don't you regard God? You’re getting the same punishment as he is.

Ours is deserved! We’re getting what we earned for what we did. But this man did nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You return King.”

Jesus responded, “Yes! I promise that you will be with me today in paradise.”

It was now about noon, and darkness covered the entire country until 3:00 in the afternoon;

the sun did not shine. Also the curtain in the Temple was split down the middle.

Crying out with a loud voice, Jesus said, “Father! Into Your hands I hand My spirit.” With these words He gave up His spirit.

When the Roman officer saw what occurred, he began praising God and said, “Surely this man was innocent!”

And when all the crowds that had gathered to watch the spectacle saw the things that had occurred, they returned home beating their breasts.

All his friends, including the women who had accompanied Him from the Galilee, had been standing at a distance; they observed it all.

There was a man named Yosef/Joseph, of the Sanhedrin. He was a good man, a counselor;

and he had not been in agreement with either the Sanhedrin’s motivation or their action. He came from the town of Arimathea, of Judea; and he looked forward to the Kingdom of God.

This man approached Pilate and asked for Jesus' body.

He took it down, wrapped it in a linen sheet, and placed it in a new unused tomb cut into the rock.

It was Preparation Day, and a Sabbath was about to start.

The women who had come with Jesus from the Galilee followed; they saw the tomb and how his body was interred.

Then they returned home to prepare spices and ointments.

On Sabbath the women rested, in obedience to the commandment;

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And having risen, the whole multitude of them did lead him to Pilate,

2 and began to accuse him, saying, `This one we found perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying himself to be Christ a king.'

3 And Pilate questioned him, saying, `Thou art the king of the Jews?' and he answering him, said, `Thou dost say [it].'

4 And Pilate said unto the chief priests, and the multitude, `I find no fault in this man;'

5 and they were the more urgent, saying -- `He doth stir up the people, teaching throughout the whole of Judea -- having begun from Galilee -- unto this place.'

6 And Pilate having heard of Galilee, questioned if the man is a Galilean,

7 and having known that he is from the jurisdiction of Herod, he sent him back unto Herod, he being also in Jerusalem in those days.

8 And Herod having seen Jesus did rejoice exceedingly, for he was wishing for a long [time] to see him, because of hearing many things about him, and he was hoping some sign to see done by him,

9 and was questioning him in many words, and he answered him nothing.

10 And the chief priests and the scribes stood vehemently accusing him,

11 and Herod with his soldiers having set him at nought, and having mocked, having put around him gorgeous apparel, did send him back to Pilate,

12 and both Pilate and Herod became friends on that day with one another, for they were before at enmity between themselves.

13 And Pilate having called together the chief priests, and the rulers, and the people,

14 said unto them, `Ye brought to me this man as perverting the people, and lo, I before you having examined, found in this man no fault in those things ye bring forward against him;

15 no, nor yet Herod, for I sent you back unto him, and lo, nothing worthy of death is having been done by him;

16 having chastised, therefore, I will release him,'

17 for it was necessary for him to release to them one at every feast,

18 and they cried out -- the whole multitude -- saying, `Away with this one, and release to us Barabbas,'

19 who had been, because of a certain sedition made in the city, and murder, cast into prison.

20 Pilate again then -- wishing to release Jesus -- called to them,

21 but they were calling out, saying, `Crucify, crucify him.'

22 And he a third time said unto them, `Why, what evil did he? no cause of death did I find in him; having chastised him, then, I will release [him].'

23 And they were pressing with loud voices asking him to be crucified, and their voices, and those of the chief priests, were prevailing,

24 and Pilate gave judgment for their request being done,

25 and he released him who because of sedition and murder hath been cast into the prison, whom they were asking, and Jesus he gave up to their will.

26 And as they led him away, having taken hold on Simon, a certain Cyrenian, coming from the field, they put on him the cross, to bear [it] behind Jesus.

27 And there was following him a great multitude of the people, and of women, who also were beating themselves and lamenting him,

28 and Jesus having turned unto them, said, `Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but for yourselves weep ye, and for your children;

29 for, lo, days do come, in which they shall say, Happy the barren, and wombs that did not bare, and paps that did not give suck;

30 then they shall begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us, and to the hills, Cover us; --

31 for, if in the green tree they do these things -- in the dry what may happen?'

32 And there were also others -- two evil-doers -- with him, to be put to death;

33 and when they came to the place that is called Skull, there they crucified him and the evil-doers, one on the right hand and one on the left.

34 And Jesus said, `Father, forgive them, for they have not known what they do;' and parting his garments they cast a lot.

35 And the people were standing, looking on, and the rulers also were sneering with them, saying, `Others he saved, let him save himself, if this be the Christ, the choice one of God.'

36 And mocking him also were the soldiers, coming near and offering vinegar to him,

37 and saying, `If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.'

38 And there was also a superscription written over him, in letters of Greek, and Roman, and Hebrew, `This is the King of the Jews.'

39 And one of the evil-doers who were hanged, was speaking evil of him, saying, `If thou be the Christ, save thyself and us.'

40 And the other answering, was rebuking him, saying, `Dost thou not even fear God, that thou art in the same judgment?

41 and we indeed righteously, for things worthy of what we did we receive back, but this one did nothing out of place;'

42 and he said to Jesus, `Remember me, lord, when thou mayest come in thy reign;'

43 and Jesus said to him, `Verily I say to thee, To-day with me thou shalt be in the paradise.'

44 And it was, as it were, the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land till the ninth hour,

45 and the sun was darkened, and the vail of the sanctuary was rent in the midst,

46 and having cried with a loud voice, Jesus said, `Father, to Thy hands I commit my spirit;' and these things having said, he breathed forth the spirit.

47 And the centurion having seen what was done, did glorify God, saying, `Really this man was righteous;'

48 and all the multitudes who were come together to this sight, beholding the things that came to pass, smiting their breasts did turn back;

49 and all his acquaintances stood afar off, and women who did follow him from Galilee, beholding these things.

50 And lo, a man, by name Joseph, being a counsellor, a man good and righteous,

51 -- he was not consenting to their counsel and deed -- from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who also himself was expecting the reign of God,

52 he, having gone near to Pilate, asked the body of Jesus,

53 and having taken it down, he wrapped it in fine linen, and placed it in a tomb hewn out, where no one was yet laid.

54 And the day was a preparation, and sabbath was approaching,

55 and the women also who have come with him out of Galilee having followed after, beheld the tomb, and how his body was placed,

56 and having turned back, they made ready spices and ointments, and on the sabbath, indeed, they rested, according to the command.

[_LittleNipper]

Luke 24:1-53

The next day, while it was still quite early, they took the spices they had mixed, went to the tomb,

and found the stone rolled aside from the tomb!

Upon entering, they discovered that the body of the Lord Jesus was missing!

They were standing there, totally confused, when suddenly 2 men in dazzlingly bright clothing stood next to them.

Terror-stricken, they bowed down with their faces towards the ground. The 2 men said to them, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?

He is not here --- He has been raised. Remember how he told you while he was yet in the Galilee,

‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be executed on a crossbeam as a criminal, but on the 3rd day rise again’?”

Then they remembered His words;

and, returning from the tomb, they told everything to the 11 and the rest.

The women who informed the Apostles of these things were Miryam of Magdala (Mary Magdalene), Yochanah (Joanna), Miryam the mother of Ya‘akov (Mary mother of James), and the others in their circle.

But the Apostles didn’t believe them. In fact, they thought that what they said was utterly ridiculous!

However, Kefa (Peter) got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping down, he saw only the burial cloths and went home pondering what had occurred.

That very day, 2 of them were headed toward a village about 7 miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus,

and they were talking with each other concerning what occurred.

As they talked and discussed, Jesus himself approached and walked along with them,

but something kept them from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you talking about with each other as you walk along?” They stopped short, their faces downcast;

and one of them, named Cleopas, answered Him, “Are you the only person in Jerusalem that doesn’t know the events occurring there the last few days?”

“What events?” Jesus asked them. They said to him, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet and proved it by the things he did and said before God and all the people.

Our head priests and leaders handed him over, so that He would be sentenced to death and executed on a crossbeam as a criminal.

And we had hoped that He would liberate Israel! Besides that, today is the 3rd day since these things happened;

and this morning, some of the women astounded us. They were at the tomb early

and couldn’t find his body, so they came back; but they also reported that they had seen a vision of angels who say He lives!

Some of our friends went to the tomb and found it exactly as the women had said, but they didn’t see Him.”

He said to them, “Foolish people! So unwilling to put your trust in everything the prophets spoke!

Didn’t the Messiah have to die like this before entering his glory?”

Then, begining with Moses and all the prophets, He explained to them the things that can be found throughout the Scriptures (Old Testament) regarding Himself.

They approached the village where they were headed. Jesus acted as if He were going farther along;

but they held him back, saying, “Stay with us, for it’s almost evening, and it’s getting dark.” So Jesus went in to stay with them.

As Jesus reclined with them at the table, he took the matzah/bread, made the blessing, broke it and handed it to them.

Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. But Jesus became invisible to them.

They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn inside us as He spoke to us on the road, explaining the Scriptures (Old Testament) to us?”

They immediately got up, returned to Jerusalem and found the 11 gathered among their friends,

saying, “It’s true! The Lord has risen! Simon saw him!”

Then the 2 related what had happened on the road and how He had become known to them in the breaking of the bread.

They were still talking about it when suddenly He appeared, standing among them!

Startled and terrified, they thought they were seeing a ghost.

But he said to them, “Why are you so upset? Why are these doubts troubling you?

Look at My hands and feet — it is I, Really! Touch Me and see — a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you can see I have.”

As He said this, He showed them his hands and feet.

While they were still unable to believe it for joy and stood there dumbfounded, he said to them, “Have you something here to eat?”

They gave him a piece of broiled fish,

which He took and ate in their presence.

Jesus said to them, “This is what I meant when I was still as you and told you that everything written regarding Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms had to be fulfilled.”

Then he opened their minds, so that they could understand the Testament,

telling them, “Here is what it says: the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the 3rd day;

and in His name repentance leading to forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed to people from all nations, starting with Jerusalem.

You are witnesses of these things.

Now I am sending out upon you what My Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been equipped with that power arriving from above.”

He led them out toward Bethany; then, raising His hands, He blessed them;

and as He was blessing them, He moved away from them and was lifted up into heaven.

They bowed worshiping Him, then returned to Jerusalem, overflowing with joy.

And they spent all their time in the Temple courts, praising God.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 And on the first of the sabbaths, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bearing the spices they made ready, and certain [others] with them,

2 and they found the stone having been rolled away from the tomb,

3 and having gone in, they found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 And it came to pass, while they are perplexed about this, that lo, two men stood by them in glittering apparel,

5 and on their having become afraid, and having inclined the face to the earth, they said to them, `Why do ye seek the living with the dead?

6 he is not here, but was raised; remember how he spake to you, being yet in Galilee,

7 saying -- It behoveth the Son of Man to be delivered up to the hands of sinful men, and to be crucified, and the third day to rise again.'

8 And they remembered his sayings,

9 and having turned back from the tomb told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest.

10 And it was the Magdalene Mary, and Joanna, and Mary of James, and the other women with them, who told unto the apostles these things,

11 and their sayings appeared before them as idle talk, and they were not believing them.

12 And Peter having risen, did run to the tomb, and having stooped down he seeth the linen clothes lying alone, and he went away to his own home, wondering at that which was come to pass.

13 And, lo, two of them were going on during that day to a village, distant sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, the name of which [is] Emmaus,

14 and they were conversing with one another about all these things that have happened.

15 And it came to pass in their conversing and reasoning together, that Jesus himself, having come nigh, was going on with them,

16 and their eyes were holden so as not to know him,

17 and he said unto them, `What [are] these words that ye exchange with one another, walking, and ye are sad?'

18 And the one, whose name was Cleopas, answering, said unto him, `Art thou alone such a stranger in Jerusalem, that thou hast not known the things that came to pass in it in these days?'

19 And he said to them, `What things?' And they said to him, `The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who became a man -- a prophet -- powerful in deed and word, before God and all the people,

20 how also the chief priests and our rulers did deliver him up to a judgment of death, and crucified him;

21 and we were hoping that he it is who is about to redeem Israel, and also with all these things, this third day is passing to-day, since these things happened.

22 `And certain women of ours also astonished us, coming early to the tomb,

23 and not having found his body, they came, saying also to have seen an apparition of messengers, who say he is alive,

24 and certain of those with us went away unto the tomb, and found as even the women said, and him they saw not.'

25 And he said unto them, `O inconsiderate and slow in heart, to believe on all that the prophets spake!

26 Was it not behoving the Christ these things to suffer, and to enter into his glory?'

27 and having begun from Moses, and from all the prophets, he was expounding to them in all the Writings the things about himself.

28 And they came nigh to the village whither they were going, and he made an appearance of going on further,

29 and they constrained him, saying, `Remain with us, for it is toward evening,' and the day did decline, and he went in to remain with them.

30 And it came to pass, in his reclining (at meat) with them, having taken the bread, he blessed, and having broken, he was giving to them,

31 and their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he became unseen by them.

32 And they said one to another, `Was not our heart burning within us, as he was speaking to us in the way, and as he was opening up to us the Writings?'

33 And they, having risen up the same hour, turned back to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven, and those with them,

34 saying -- `The Lord was raised indeed, and was seen by Simon;'

35 and they were telling the things in the way, and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread,

36 and as they are speaking these things, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith to them, `Peace -- to you;'

37 and being amazed, and becoming affrighted, they were thinking themselves to see a spirit.

38 And he said to them, `Why are ye troubled? and wherefore do reasonings come up in your hearts?

39 see my hands and my feet, that I am he; handle me and see, because a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me having.'

40 And having said this, he shewed to them the hands and the feet,

41 and while they are not believing from the joy, and wondering, he said to them, `Have ye anything here to eat?'

42 and they gave to him part of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb,

43 and having taken, he did eat before them,

44 and he said to them, `These [are] the words that I spake unto you, being yet with you, that it behoveth to be fulfilled all the things that are written in the Law of Moses, and the Prophets, and the Psalms, about me.'

45 Then opened he up their understanding to understand the Writings,

46 and he said to them -- `Thus it hath been written, and thus it was behoving the Christ to suffer, and to rise out of the dead the third day,

47 and reformation and remission of sins to be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem:

48 and ye -- ye are witnesses of these things.

49 `And, lo, I do send the promise of my Father upon you, but ye -- abide ye in the city of Jerusalem till ye be clothed with power from on high.'

50 And he led them forth without -- unto Bethany, and having lifted up his hands he did bless them,

51 and it came to pass, in his blessing them, he was parted from them, and was borne up to the heaven;

52 and they, having bowed before him, did turn back to Jerusalem with great joy,

53 and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

[_LittleNipper]

*

[_Choyo Chagas]

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[_LittleNipper]

John 1:1-51

In the beginning [Gen. 1:1] the Plan already existed. The Plan was in an intimate relationship with God, and the Plan was fully God.

He was already existing in the presence of God in the beginning.

All things came to be by Him, and nothing exists without Him [Prov. 8:22–31].

Through Him there was life, and that life was the light of everyone.

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not comprehended it.

There was a man named John the Baptist who was sent by God.

He came to testify concerning the Light so that through him everyone could hear about the Light and might believe through him.

John was not the Light, but came to bear witness regarding the Light.

The true Light,enlightening everyone born, was arriving!

The Plan was in the world created by Him, but the world did not recognize Him.

He came to His chosen country, but His chosen people did not accept Him.

But to those who did accept Him and believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.

They did not become His children by physical birth or a husband’s desire. They were born of God.

The Plan became a human and pitched His tent among us. We saw His majesty—the glory that belongs to the only Son begotten from the Father. And He was full of God’s gracious love and faithfulness; [Ex. 34:5–7].

John tells the truth concerning Him and cries out, saying, “This is the One I informed you of when I stated: 'The One who comes after me is greater than I am, because He always existed before me.’”

Because He was full of grace and truth, from Him we all received one gift after another.

The law was given through Moses [Ex. 19—24], but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

No one has ever seen total God. But God the only Son is very close to the heart of the Father, and He has shown us what God is like.

Here is the truth John told when the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites [1 Chr. 23:24–32] to ask him, “Who are you?”

John the Baptist confessed and did not refuse to answer. He said, “I am not the Messiah/Christ.”

So they asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” [1 Kin. 17—2 Kin. 2; Mal. 4:5–6.]

He answered, “No, I'm not.”

“Are you the Prophet?” they asked.

He answered, “No.”

Then they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to tell those who sent us. What do you say with regards to yourself?”

John the Baptist told them in the words of the prophet Isaiah:

“I am the voice of one calling out in the wilderness: ‘Clear a path for the Lord [Is. 40:3].’”

Some Pharisees who had been sent asked John:

“If you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, why do you immerse people?”

John answered, “I baptize with mere water, but there is one here now that you don’t recognize.

He is the One who comes next after me. I am not worthy; to untie the thongs of his sandals.”

This all transpired at Bethany across the Jordan River, where John was immersing people.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, “Look, God's Lamb [Gen. 22:8], who removes the world's sin!

This is the One I was talking about when I said, ‘A Man will come after me, but He is greater than I am, because He always existed before me.’

Even I did not recognize who He really was, although I came baptizing with water so that the people of Israel would know who He is.”

Then John said, “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven in the form of a dove and rest on him. Until then I had no idea who the Messiah was. But the God who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘You will see the Spirit come down and rest on a Man. He is the One who immerses with the Holy Spirit.’

I have seen this happen, and I testify: This Man is God's Son.”

The next day John the Baptist was standing there again with two of his followers.

When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, God's Lamb!”

The two followers heard John say this, so they followed Jesus.

When Jesus turned and saw them following along, he asked, “What do you seek?”

They said, “Rabbi/Teacher, where are you staying?”

He answered, “Come and see.” So the two men went with Jesus and saw where he was staying and remained there with Him that day. It was about 4:00 PM in the afternoon.

One of the two men who followed Jesus after they heard John speak about him was Simon Peter’s brother Andrew.

The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and say to him, “We have found the Messiah.” (Anointed One)

Andrew took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas/Peter.” (Cephas and Greek Petros mean “rock)

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”

Philip was from the town of Bethsaida -- Andrew and Peter's home town.

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the Man that Moses described in the Law, and the prophets also wrote about Him. He is Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”

But Nathanael said to Philip, “Can any good originate at Nazareth?”

Philip answered, “Come and see.”

As Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said, “Here is a real Israelite. There is no deceit in him.”

Nathanael asked, “How do you know me?”

Jesus answered, “I observed you when you were under the fig tree, before Philip told you about me.”

Then Nathanael said to Jesus, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”

Jesus said to Nathanael, “Do you believe simply because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will observe greater things than that.”

And Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and angels of God going up and coming down upon the Son of Man [Dan. 7:13–14].”


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God;

2 this one was in the beginning with God;

3 all things through him did happen, and without him happened not even one thing that hath happened.

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men,

5 and the light in the darkness did shine, and the darkness did not perceive it.

6 There came a man -- having been sent from God -- whose name [is] John,

7 this one came for testimony, that he might testify about the Light, that all might believe through him;

8 that one was not the Light, but -- that he might testify about the Light.

9 He was the true Light, which doth enlighten every man, coming to the world;

10 in the world he was, and the world through him was made, and the world did not know him:

11 to his own things he came, and his own people did not receive him;

12 but as many as did receive him to them he gave authority to become sons of God -- to those believing in his name,

13 who -- not of blood nor of a will of flesh, nor of a will of man but -- of God were begotten.

14 And the Word became flesh, and did tabernacle among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of an only begotten of a father, full of grace and truth.

15 John doth testify concerning him, and hath cried, saying, `This was he of whom I said, He who after me is coming, hath come before me, for he was before me;'

16 and out of his fulness did we all receive, and grace over-against grace;

17 for the law through Moses was given, the grace and the truth through Jesus Christ did come;

18 God no one hath ever seen; the only begotten Son, who is on the bosom of the Father -- he did declare.

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent out of Jerusalem priests and Levites, that they might question him, `Who art thou?'

20 and he confessed and did not deny, and confessed -- `I am not the Christ.'

21 And they questioned him, `What then? Elijah art thou?' and he saith, `I am not.' -- `The prophet art thou?' and he answered, `No.'

22 They said then to him, `Who art thou, that we may give an answer to those sending us? what dost thou say concerning thyself?'

23 He said, `I [am] a voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.'

24 And those sent were of the Pharisees,

25 and they questioned him and said to him, `Why, then, dost thou baptize, if thou art not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?'

26 John answered them, saying, `I baptize with water, but in midst of you he hath stood whom ye have not known, this one it is who is coming after me, who hath been before me,

27 of whom I am not worthy that I may loose the cord of his sandal.'

28 These things came to pass in Bethabara, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing,

29 on the morrow John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, `Lo, the Lamb of God, who is taking away the sin of the world;

30 this is he concerning whom I said, After me doth come a man, who hath come before me, because he was before me:

31 and I knew him not, but, that he might be manifested to Israel, because of this I came with the water baptizing.

32 And John testified, saying -- `I have seen the Spirit coming down, as a dove, out of heaven, and it remained on him;

33 and I did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water, He said to me, On whomsoever thou mayst see the Spirit coming down, and remaining on him, this is he who is baptizing with the
Holy Spirit;

34 and I have seen, and have testified, that this is the Son of God.'

35 On the morrow, again, John was standing, and two of his disciples,

36 and having looked on Jesus walking, he saith, `Lo, the Lamb of God;'

37 and the two disciples heard him speaking, and they followed Jesus.

38 And Jesus having turned, and having beheld them following, saith to them, `What seek ye?' and they said to them, `Rabbi, (which is, being interpreted, Teacher,) where remainest thou?'

39 He saith to them, `Come and see;' they came, and saw where he doth remain, and with him they remained that day and the hour was about the tenth.

40 Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard from John, and followed him;

41 this one doth first find his own brother Simon, and saith to him, `We have found the Messiah,' (which is, being interpreted, The Anointed,)

42 and he brought him unto Jesus: and having looked upon him, Jesus saith, `Thou art Simon, the son of Jonas, thou shalt be called Cephas,' (which is interpreted, A rock.)

43 On the morrow, he willed to go forth to Galilee, and he findeth Philip, and saith to him, `Be following me.'

44 And Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter;

45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith to him, `Him of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and the prophets, we have found, Jesus the son of Joseph, who [is] from Nazareth;'

46 and Nathanael said to him, `Out of Nazareth is any good thing able to be?' Philip said to him, `Come and see.'

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming unto him, and he saith concerning him, `Lo, truly an Israelite, in whom guile is not;'

48 Nathanael saith to him, `Whence me dost thou know?' Jesus answered and said to him, `Before Philip's calling thee -- thou being under the fig-tree -- I saw thee.'

49 Nathanael answered and saith to him, `Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the king of Israel.'

50 Jesus answered and said to him, `Because I said to thee, I saw thee under the fig-tree, thou dost believe; greater things than these thou shalt see;'

51 and he saith to him, `Verily, verily, I say to you, henceforth ye shall see the heaven opened, and the messengers of God going up and coming down upon the Son of Man.'